Rebels fail to show up in crucial second half

the numbers

Monday, Oct. 28, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

First Quarter: Tied, 7-7

The Man: San Diego State quarterback Adam Hall completed 10 of 13 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown, including a 56-yarder to J.R. Tolver up the right sideline.

Turning Point: UNLV ties it, 7-7, on a 31-yard run up the middle of the field by tailback Dominique Dorsey.

Game within the game: San Diego State's short passing game keeps UNLV's defense on the field for 26 plays and 10 minutes and 43 seconds.

Second quarter: UNLV, 14-10

The Man: Senior cornerback Jamal Wynn picks up a Tolver fumble and returns it 81 yards for a touchdown to give UNLV a 14-10 halftime lead.

Turning Point: Sophomore linebacker Adam Seward striped the ball away from Tolver to force the fumble Wynn ran back for the unlikely touchdown.

Game within the game: Rebel defense already looks tired after Aztecs run 51 plays and hold a huge 19:20 to 10:40 edge in time of possession.

Third quarter: SDSU, 24-14

The Man: Kyle Conerly runs back a punt 87 yards, tip-toeing up the right sideline and eluding two would-be Rebel defenders in the process, to extend San Diego State's lead to 24-14.

Turning Point: Aztecs took the second half kickoff and drove 85 yards in seven plays to regain the lead, 17-14, on a three-yard run by freshman running back Frederick Collins.

Game within the game: Because of all the Aztec passing and a 25-minute Homecoming halftime break, it takes nearly three hours to play the first three quarters.

Fourth quarter: SDSU, 31-21

The Man: Tolver catches his second touchdown pass of the game, a one-yard fade on the second play of the quarter to increase the Aztec lead to 31-14. Tolver finishes with nine receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

Turning Point: Trailing by 17 points after Tolver's toiuchdown, the Rebels pick up just one first down before punting the ball back to the Aztecs.

Game within the game: Frustrated senior quarterback Jason Thomas fires the ball into the wall at the end of the end zone after scoring UNLV's final touchdown of the game, a 15-yarder with 3:42 left.